Community groups offering activities and services to welcome and support refugees of any nationality who are arriving, residing or settling in Dorset are invited to apply for grants from the Dorset Welcome Fund.

Applications received by 27 July will receive a decision by the end of August; those by 26 August will receive a decision by the end of September with those received by 7 October getting a decision by the end of October.

Currently, the fund can only accept applications for work taking place in the Dorset Council area.

Funded by Dorset Council, it is administered by Dorset Community Foundation which anticipates funding a range of activities and services such as community events and social activities to address isolation, befriending and mental health services, advice and advocacy. Also the supply of practical or personal items to address hardship.

Grants cannot be used to offer cash grants to individual refugees or families.

For more details see https://www.dorsetcommunityfoundation.org/funds/dorset-welcome-fund/?dm_i=1Z6W,7X703,96CFP3,WD9S1,1

Dorset Community Foundation is also administering two other schemes.

In conjunction with the Dorset High Sheriff for 2022/23, Sibyl Fine King, the Nature Heals Seed Fund offers small grants to community groups offering activities that use the benefits of the natural world and engagement with nature to improve the lives of local people.

The deadline is 12 August and for details see https://www.dorsetcommunityfoundation.org/funds/nature-heals-seed-fund/?dm_i=1Z6W,7X703,96CFP3,WD9S1,1

The DCF Bursary Scheme which opens on 18 July and closes on 13 January 2023 offers bursaries to young people age 16 – 25 attending vocational courses at one of the main colleges (Bournemouth & Poole, Brockenhurst, Kingston Maurward, Weymouth, Wiltshire & Yeovil) – household income should be under £30,000. Details from https://www.dorsetcommunityfoundation.org/funds/dcf-bursary-scheme/?dm_i=1Z6W,7X703,96CFP3,WD9S1,1

There are also bursaries to students studying STEM subjects, thanks to Superior Ltd. See https://www.dorsetcommunityfoundation.org/funds/superior-stem-bursary-fund/?dm_i=1Z6W,7X703,96CFP3,WD9S1,1